Pastathon
Los Angeles-based radio station KFI 640AM partnered with Anaheim White House restaurant owner Bruno Serato for the fifth consecutive year in a daylong radiothon to collect pasta, sauce and cash to help Serato’s charity, Caterina’s Club.
The all-day event, which took place Nov. 13, was broadcast live as part of the radio station’s scheduled programming. It had raised $240,833 and 59,006 pounds of pasta and sauce by day’s end.
Caterina’s Club, named after Serato’s mother, feeds approximately 1,000 needy children every night. Many of the children live in motels near his upscale Italian restaurant.
The radiothon has raised more than $1 million and 155,218 pounds of food since its inception in 2010, all of which is used to provide meals for the children.
Strong Foundation
The 2015 KidWorks’ Foundation for Success Luncheon was held Nov. 19 at the Doubletree Hotel in Santa Ana. Former UCLA Bruin and NBA star Bill Walton was the keynote speaker. Television news anchor and sportscaster Ed Arnold was the emcee.
Former KidWorks Chief Executive Ava Steaffens was acknowledged for her vision and dedication over the past 15 years.
American Career College-West Coast University and Toyota Financial Services were among the presenting sponsors of this year’s event, which raised a record-breaking $620,000. The proceeds will fund leadership development and after-school education programs conducted by the nonprofit for at-risk children in central Santa Ana.
It was the largest sum raised since the inception of the luncheon in 2007 and represents 23% of KidWorks’ operating budget and almost 65% of its after-school program budget funding academic enrichment, leadership development, tutoring and college-readiness programs.
Shining Stars
Marconi Foundation for Kids, California Sunset Escrow, and Harker, Campbell & Sage LLP were among the sponsors of I Padrini di Antonello’s 10th annual An Evening Under the Stars fundraiser.
I Padrini di Antonello is a philanthropic group committed to supporting children’s causes in Orange County. It’s led by Windell Stout, chief executive of California Sunset Escrow.
More than 350 guests attended the Oct. 4 event at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin. It netted over $150,000.
Proceeds will benefit Seneca Orange County, a nonprofit agency that creates and supports permanent families for children, and Speech and Language Development Center, a school and therapy center for children and young adults with special needs, and other children’s charities sponsored by I Padrini di Antonello.
I Padrini di Antonello has raised more than $1 million for OC children’s charities over the past decade.
“A big thank you to the event committee and all the sponsors and supporters who attended and contributed to the event,” Stout said. “Because of their generosity, I Padrini will be able to continue its mission of helping vulnerable Orange County children.”
The Power of One
A sellout crowd of 340 guests came together Nov. 3 at Olive Crest Orange County’s The Power of One Luncheon at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel.
The event, held in celebration of National Adoption Month, featured a keynote address by David Pelzer, author of the New York Times and international best-selling “A Child Called It.”
The $20,000 raised will support Olive Crest Orange County’s child abuse prevention and treatment programs.
Sponsors included Union Bank; Oltmans Construction; Nienow & Tierney LLP; Merrill Lynch; Toyota of Huntington Beach; and HUB International.
Bits & Pieces
Nihon Kohden donated the proceeds from the sale of one of its EEG-1200A machines to benefit the American Epilepsy Society’s clinical and basic research fellowships, a value worth more than $28,000, according to a news release. … Employees of Irvine-based real estate and construction firm Snyder Langston will assemble 100 bikes for Orange County low-income youth at The Wooden Floor and foster youth at the Orangewood Foundation, both in Santa Ana. … Santa Ana-based Community Service Programs appointed 20-year employee Ronnetta Johnson, who most recently served as the director of the CSP Victim Assistance Program, as executive director of the nonprofit organization.
